Hollings Defends A-Bomb ‘Joke’ About Japanese

Sen. Ernest F. Hollings (D-S.C.) says he was just responding to Japanese criticism when he told workers they “should draw a mushroom cloud and put under it: ‘Made in America by lazy and illiterate Americans and tested in Japan.’ ”

Hollings said he used the World War II image of the atomic bombs dropped on Japan, which killed thousands and hastened the end of the war, because he wanted to show that he was tired of Japanese criticism.

The 70-year-old senator, who is up for reelection in November, was touring the Hartsville, S.C., plant of Roller Bearing Co. of America when he made the statement Monday to about 90 workers. The comments drew applause.

“I’m not Japan bashing. I’m defending against America bashing. When you defend America, they want you to apologize,” Hollings said in a statement Tuesday.

“I made a joke to make a point; the Japanese Speaker was wrong when he said that American workers are lazy and stupid.”

He referred to comments in January by Japanese Parliament Speaker Yoshio Sakurauchi about the American work ethic.

Sakurauchi said that U.S. workers are lazy, unproductive and illiterate. Japanese Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa fueled the controversy two weeks later when he suggested that Americans lack a work ethic.

Christine Rose, of the Japan America Society in Seattle, thinks Hollings is sending a dangerous message.

“I think he ought to read a few more history books,” Rose said.

Hollings’ comment “promotes a racist kind of emotional response instead of intelligent facts that we need to deal with right now,” she said. “As a senator he needs to take responsibility for the economic state this country is in and not point a finger of blame at another country. He’s the one making policy.”

Mary Earle, executive director of the Japan America Society of Georgia, said that politics cloud the issues.

“To me that’s an irresponsible and unfortunate comment, as are the comments the Japanese have made about American workers,” said Earle, who says her group has 11,000 members.

The Japanese Consulate in Atlanta would not comment specifically on Hollings’ remarks. But spokeswoman Mitsuyo Hara said many Japanese are ashamed of Sakurauchi’s statement that Americans lack a work ethic. Japanese are “very sorry there is a misunderstanding and a perception gap between the United States and Japan.”

A spokesman at the Japanese Embassy in Washington said he could not respond until he verified Hollings’ comments.